Middle-earth Superstitions: 31. Wishing on the ashes

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31. Wishing on the ashes

The thought resounded in Miranna's mind, again and again. Anarwe was going to war.

He was going to the Black gate, the Gate of Mordor, and few who came thence would return. But as a knight of Gondor, it was his duty, not to be shirked, not to be excused. In this desperate day, even young boys were going to war. It had happened before, but never so drastically. The men were going, almost certainly never to return.

In the Battle of the Pelennor, Anarwe had been lucky, suffering no more than a gash on the arm. Miranna knew how many were dead, and wounded severely, and she thanked the Valar that Anarwe was all right. But this time there would be no return.

Miranna dropped like a stone into her armchair, before the fading fire, gazing into the embers as tears flowed down her face, and dropped hissing onto the coals.

Unsummoned, an old rhyme her nurse had taught her when she was still young leaped into her mind. Taking a handful of the still hot ashes, she scattered it on the remains of the fire.

Dark ashes, bright flame,Grant me this, in my loved one's nameI plea. That darknessShall be driven forth, and brightnessEndure, And most may my loved oneCome back safe when war is done.

**************************

It was a day of celebration in the city, such joy as they had never know in centuries, nay, millenia. Yet for Miranna, there was only one sight. Anarwe was home, riding at the head of his men, amid the cheers and singing of the crowd.

**************************By: AramelEmail: aramel_calawen@yahoo.com

This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.

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